1875 Rangitikei by-election

1875 Rangitikei by-election
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Turnout244
 
Candidate John Ballance William Hogg Watt
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 112 105
Member before election

William Fox
Independent

Elected Member

John Ballance
Independent

The 1875 Rangitikei by-election was a by-election held on 24 April 1875 during the 5th New Zealand Parliament in the Rangitikei electorate on the West Coast of the North Island.

The by-election was held because of the resignation of sitting member of parliament and previous Premier William Fox on 11 March 1875[1] in order to pay an extended visit to England.[2]

This election saw John Ballance narrowly win the seat by just seven votes over his main opponent, William Hogg Watt who had represented the Rangitikei electorate from 1866 to 1868 when he resigned.[3] Conservative George Hutchison also ran. He was the son of William Hutchison a former mayor of Wellington and Member of Parliament, though performed poorly.

  1. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 197
  2. ^ McIvor 1989, p. 52.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 181, 244.